6 ms·

Jair Bolsonaro: Organized Crime and Corruption 2020 Person of the Year

58 points by wcerfgba 6y ago

spodek 6y ago
> Bolsonaro narrowly beat two other populist leaders, U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Erdogan, for the dubious prize. An impressive feat. Sadly, > “It’s hard to choose. There are so many worthy candidates,” said OCCRP co-founder Paul Radu. “Corruption is a growth industry.”
- yostrovs 6y ago
  What corrupt activities was Trump found guilty of? I think this organization simply likes certain political types and hates others. Lula never got this award though he was charged and found guilty of corruption.
Chainloader 6y ago
Merited.
fit2rule 6y ago
The corruption of government begins with its secrets. A truly free people keep no secrets. None of the members of this list would be known if it weren't for those willing to risk their lives to reveal secrets. This act must always be held higher than governance.
jmnicolas 6y ago
Having 0 knowledge about the man nor the country, I can't comment on the fact that the title is deserved or not, but when I see who's behind OCCRP I can't help think there's an agenda behind: https://www.occrp.org/en/aboutus/who-supports-our-work https://www.occrp.org/en/aboutus/who-supports-our-work
- bunje 6y ago
  I cannot understand what you are implying. Can you be more specific?
  - jmnicolas 6y ago
    I'm implying that they don't care about his corruption, since they tolerate it in the leaders that align with their views. The NED and Open Society are well known tools of regime change.
    - fosap 6y ago
      >since they tolerate it in the leaders that align with their views. Which one?
      - jmnicolas 6y ago
        Ukraine for example.
- mhh__ 6y ago
  Damn, the Danish ministry of foreign affairs is pulling the strings!!! Jesus christ, the HN groupthink on matters like this is so naive - of course there's an agenda, everything and everyone has an agenda.
- ibrahimcesar 6y ago
  Being Brazilian, I can attest, he deserved, no matter who is behind. He appointed his own son to be Brazil's consul in US saying "If I can give my son a filet, I'll give him a filet". When he visits countries such as US came along with him several entourages, such as another son, city council of Rio Janeiro for reasons whatsoever to be in the trip, and his bill (hotels, etc) are all paid with public money. And I even started.
throwaway10144 6y ago
It is definitely a weird choice to say that he is the "organized crime person of the year" when the biggest criminal organization in brazil (PCC) was caught in a wiretap last year complaining that Bolsonaro's government was too harsh on them, and alluding to having a great dialogue with former leftist leaders[0]. It is true that his son has been accused of hiring "phantom" employees, but to say it was on Bolsonaro's behalf is pure speculation, in fact there are zero corruption charges against him. I personally find the whole Hunder Biden episode to be a lot more damning than that and I am not ready to say Joe Biden deserves to be held responsible for it. It is also worth noting there is no "OCCRP" award against Lula, former Brazil's president, who was in fact tried, charged, and imprisioned through a lengthy and fair judicial process - that really makes you question the true motives of this award. Are speculations more important than the due process of the law? [0] https://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/preso-do-pcc-o-pt-tinha-dialogo-com-nois-cabuloso/ https://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/preso-do-pcc-o-pt-tinha-dia...
- ibrahimcesar 6y ago
  "imprisioned through a lengthy and fair judicial process" - which was conducted by a judge that was Justice Minister for Bolsonaro, and left, accusing him of corruption when trying to take control of federal policy. The judicial process was not take to full extent, and with all this context is mostly likely to all charges be removed against him.
  - throwaway10144 6y ago
    Several judges including the Supreme Court[0] ruled against him. To say that he was in prison because of a single biased judge is pure denial and borderline a conspiracy theory. https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/segunda-turma-do-stf-mantem-lula-preso-23763422 https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/segunda-turma-do-stf-mantem-...
- marcosdumay 6y ago
  > was caught in a wiretap last year complaining that Bolsonaro's government was too harsh on them Yes, that indeed happened. But, of course, the person responsible for that harshness was already expelled from the government, and it's on the process of undoing all of his modifications.
mhh__ 6y ago
Amazing performance to beat Trump after all he's done - if Donald wanted to win his strategy should've been to start pardoning his cronies earlier.
- yostrovs 6y ago
  What all did he do? Really, would love a few clear examples of corruption.
  - Sanchless 6y ago
    Pardoning his son-in-law's father, the Ukraine scandal, accepting bribes from Turkey to quash a federal investigation...
    - yostrovs 6y ago
      I didn't know about the first one. That seems like his power regardless. The last one is a lie. The Ukraine "scandal" seemed completely bogus. I asked for clear examples, not ones he's been acquitted of.
      - Sanchless 6y ago
        If you think having a power means you cannot use it corruptly, than I see why you've gone so long without recognizing Trump's corruption. It's pretty clear from your responses that your are blinded by partisanship, so I won't argue with you on the point.
        mhh__ 6y ago
        "Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal."
  - mhh__ 6y ago
    Tear gassing protestors where there was no problem so he could hold a Bible upside down? Ukraine? Attempting to subvert the democratic process? Pardoning people accused of war crimes - without due process? Pardoning people accused of corruption on his behalf - Manafort, Flynn, Stone. Continuously spending federal money on his own properties without being subject to any regulation or oversight? Asking for the arrests of his political rivals etc. etc. If you say "ahh but where is the conviction" don't be naive - how do you charge a sitting president.
nazbuck 6y ago
Thanks Jewish subversive agenda, very cool. How Biden didn't win this with honours is a real mystery
soneca 6y ago
I think Bolsonaro is the worst democratic president Brazil ever had. I think he is the dumbest one too and I think he is personally responsible for a large percentage of avoidable Covid deaths in Brazil. I think he is corrupt too. But I think he is not more corrupt than tons of other politicians in Brazil, and also not more corrupt than several other world leaders. Also, no drug lord considered to an “organized crime” relevance award? This “award” is just a statement about the opinion of those behind it of which places took a turn for the worst this year. It is a political opinion as important /unimportant as any opinion article written by any of those supporting organizations. It is not a thought out selection with objective criteria. Just a way to influence society opinion. Which is ok btw, just not something worth taken as definite judgement about who was the more influential person in corruption and organized crime in 2020.
edumucelli 6y ago
Too bad he can't understand a word of what is written in the award ... even if it was written in Portuguese.
lvass 6y ago
Though institutions also got this award in the past, it seems the OCCRP would dare not mention the Chinese Communist Party that is definitely better suited for this year's award. Our chinese overlords (they are buying our country, Brazil) must be happy we and the rest of the world have people like Bolsonaro to blame for all our problems, despite not even once being formally accused, while they silently trample on our future and our dreams.

58 points by wcerfgba 6y ago

> Bolsonaro narrowly beat two other populist leaders, U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Erdogan, for the dubious prize. An impressive feat. Sadly, > “It’s hard to choose. There are so many worthy candidates,” said OCCRP co-founder Paul Radu. “Corruption is a growth industry.”

yostrovs 6y ago
What corrupt activities was Trump found guilty of? I think this organization simply likes certain political types and hates others. Lula never got this award though he was charged and found guilty of corruption.

Chainloader 6y ago

Merited.

fit2rule 6y ago

The corruption of government begins with its secrets. A truly free people keep no secrets. None of the members of this list would be known if it weren't for those willing to risk their lives to reveal secrets. This act must always be held higher than governance.

jmnicolas 6y ago

Having 0 knowledge about the man nor the country, I can't comment on the fact that the title is deserved or not, but when I see who's behind OCCRP I can't help think there's an agenda behind: https://www.occrp.org/en/aboutus/who-supports-our-work https://www.occrp.org/en/aboutus/who-supports-our-work

bunje 6y ago
I cannot understand what you are implying. Can you be more specific?
- jmnicolas 6y ago
  I'm implying that they don't care about his corruption, since they tolerate it in the leaders that align with their views. The NED and Open Society are well known tools of regime change.
  - fosap 6y ago
    >since they tolerate it in the leaders that align with their views. Which one?
    - jmnicolas 6y ago
      Ukraine for example.
mhh__ 6y ago
Damn, the Danish ministry of foreign affairs is pulling the strings!!! Jesus christ, the HN groupthink on matters like this is so naive - of course there's an agenda, everything and everyone has an agenda.
ibrahimcesar 6y ago
Being Brazilian, I can attest, he deserved, no matter who is behind. He appointed his own son to be Brazil's consul in US saying "If I can give my son a filet, I'll give him a filet". When he visits countries such as US came along with him several entourages, such as another son, city council of Rio Janeiro for reasons whatsoever to be in the trip, and his bill (hotels, etc) are all paid with public money. And I even started.

throwaway10144 6y ago

It is definitely a weird choice to say that he is the "organized crime person of the year" when the biggest criminal organization in brazil (PCC) was caught in a wiretap last year complaining that Bolsonaro's government was too harsh on them, and alluding to having a great dialogue with former leftist leaders[0]. It is true that his son has been accused of hiring "phantom" employees, but to say it was on Bolsonaro's behalf is pure speculation, in fact there are zero corruption charges against him. I personally find the whole Hunder Biden episode to be a lot more damning than that and I am not ready to say Joe Biden deserves to be held responsible for it. It is also worth noting there is no "OCCRP" award against Lula, former Brazil's president, who was in fact tried, charged, and imprisioned through a lengthy and fair judicial process - that really makes you question the true motives of this award. Are speculations more important than the due process of the law? [0] https://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/preso-do-pcc-o-pt-tinha-dialogo-com-nois-cabuloso/ https://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/preso-do-pcc-o-pt-tinha-dia...

ibrahimcesar 6y ago
"imprisioned through a lengthy and fair judicial process" - which was conducted by a judge that was Justice Minister for Bolsonaro, and left, accusing him of corruption when trying to take control of federal policy. The judicial process was not take to full extent, and with all this context is mostly likely to all charges be removed against him.
- throwaway10144 6y ago
  Several judges including the Supreme Court[0] ruled against him. To say that he was in prison because of a single biased judge is pure denial and borderline a conspiracy theory. https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/segunda-turma-do-stf-mantem-lula-preso-23763422 https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/segunda-turma-do-stf-mantem-...
marcosdumay 6y ago
> was caught in a wiretap last year complaining that Bolsonaro's government was too harsh on them Yes, that indeed happened. But, of course, the person responsible for that harshness was already expelled from the government, and it's on the process of undoing all of his modifications.

mhh__ 6y ago

Amazing performance to beat Trump after all he's done - if Donald wanted to win his strategy should've been to start pardoning his cronies earlier.

yostrovs 6y ago
What all did he do? Really, would love a few clear examples of corruption.
- Sanchless 6y ago
  Pardoning his son-in-law's father, the Ukraine scandal, accepting bribes from Turkey to quash a federal investigation...
  - yostrovs 6y ago
    I didn't know about the first one. That seems like his power regardless. The last one is a lie. The Ukraine "scandal" seemed completely bogus. I asked for clear examples, not ones he's been acquitted of.
    - Sanchless 6y ago
      If you think having a power means you cannot use it corruptly, than I see why you've gone so long without recognizing Trump's corruption. It's pretty clear from your responses that your are blinded by partisanship, so I won't argue with you on the point.
      - mhh__ 6y ago
        "Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal."
- mhh__ 6y ago
  Tear gassing protestors where there was no problem so he could hold a Bible upside down? Ukraine? Attempting to subvert the democratic process? Pardoning people accused of war crimes - without due process? Pardoning people accused of corruption on his behalf - Manafort, Flynn, Stone. Continuously spending federal money on his own properties without being subject to any regulation or oversight? Asking for the arrests of his political rivals etc. etc. If you say "ahh but where is the conviction" don't be naive - how do you charge a sitting president.

nazbuck 6y ago

Thanks Jewish subversive agenda, very cool. How Biden didn't win this with honours is a real mystery

soneca 6y ago

I think Bolsonaro is the worst democratic president Brazil ever had. I think he is the dumbest one too and I think he is personally responsible for a large percentage of avoidable Covid deaths in Brazil. I think he is corrupt too. But I think he is not more corrupt than tons of other politicians in Brazil, and also not more corrupt than several other world leaders. Also, no drug lord considered to an “organized crime” relevance award? This “award” is just a statement about the opinion of those behind it of which places took a turn for the worst this year. It is a political opinion as important /unimportant as any opinion article written by any of those supporting organizations. It is not a thought out selection with objective criteria. Just a way to influence society opinion. Which is ok btw, just not something worth taken as definite judgement about who was the more influential person in corruption and organized crime in 2020.

edumucelli 6y ago

Too bad he can't understand a word of what is written in the award ... even if it was written in Portuguese.

lvass 6y ago

Though institutions also got this award in the past, it seems the OCCRP would dare not mention the Chinese Communist Party that is definitely better suited for this year's award. Our chinese overlords (they are buying our country, Brazil) must be happy we and the rest of the world have people like Bolsonaro to blame for all our problems, despite not even once being formally accused, while they silently trample on our future and our dreams.